Lesson 4 - Leadership & Tournament Play
Leadership In Netball Performance
•Year 9
•Sport Education
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
What makes a truly successful team beyond just winning matches?
Learning Objectives
- Lead their own warm-up and fitness challenges with confidence and appropriate coaching language
- Demonstrate excellent sportsmanship and fair play throughout competitive tournament matches
- Accurately self and peer assess performance using structured assessment criteria
- Apply and integrate three key fitness components (speed, agility, endurance) relevant to netball performance
- Celebrate team achievements whilst reflecting constructively on individual and collective contributions
Key Outcomes
- Students will successfully lead warm-up sessions using appropriate coaching terminology and clear instructions
- Students will demonstrate consistent fair play behaviours and positive sportsmanship during competitive situations
- Students will complete accurate self and peer assessments using the assessment matrix with specific, actionable targets
- Students will show improved application of speed, agility and endurance components during game situations
- Students will articulate specific team successes and individual contributions through structured reflection
Equipment & Resources Required
Store in equipment bag, distribute as teams collect for warm-up
Alternative: Basketballs or size 4 footballs for passing practice
Pre-sorted into team sets, distributed at start of lesson
Alternative: Coloured bands or team pinnards
Used for fitness stations and court boundaries
Alternative: Cones, spots or chalk marks on court
Check height and stability before lesson begins
Alternative: Basketball hoops or improvised targets
Set up agility courses and define activity areas
Alternative: Markers, spots or improvised boundaries
Printed and ready to distribute with clipboards/hard surfaces
Alternative: Digital assessment on tablets/phones
Lay flat on court surface, secured at ends
Alternative: Chalk ladder patterns or rope ladders
Set at appropriate height for agility work (15-30cm)
Alternative: Cones, witches hats or marked lines to step over
Used for agility and reaction training exercises
Alternative: Tennis balls or small rubber balls
For hand-eye coordination and reaction activities
Alternative: Small soft balls or bean bags
Key Vocabulary
The ability to move quickly from one point to another or to perform movements rapidly
The ability to change direction quickly and efficiently while maintaining control and balance
The ability to sustain physical activity over extended periods without fatigue significantly affecting performance
Fair and generous behaviour especially when competing, including respect for opponents and officials
A structured framework for evaluating performance with specific criteria at different levels
A series of competitive matches between multiple teams following a structured format
Taking responsibility for guiding, motivating and supporting others to achieve shared goals
Thoughtful consideration of experiences, actions and outcomes to identify learning and improvement
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Students can perform basic netball skills including passing, shooting and movement
- Students understand fundamental rules and positions in netball
- Students have experience of working in teams and basic cooperation skills
- Students can participate in fitness activities with appropriate effort
- Students have been introduced to the concepts of fair play and sportsmanship
Current Skills
- Leadership skills including giving clear instructions and demonstrations
- Advanced sportsmanship behaviours under competitive pressure
- Self-reflection and peer assessment capabilities using structured criteria
- Integration of fitness components into sport-specific performance
- Team celebration and constructive performance analysis
Next Steps
- Leading coaching sessions for younger students or community groups
- Taking on official roles such as referee, coach or team captain
- Designing training programmes that integrate multiple fitness components
- Mentoring others in developing positive sporting attitudes and behaviours
- Applying assessment and reflection skills across different sports and activities
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Student leadership development requires specific coaching language and clear demonstration expectations
- Assessment must be evidence-based with specific examples rather than general impressions or friendship-influenced judgements
- Sportsmanship standards become most crucial under competitive pressure and must be consistently reinforced
- Fitness components should be explicitly connected to netball performance with clear, observable applications during game play
- Team celebration and recognition must extend beyond competitive results to include character development and values demonstration
- Self-reflection and target setting require structured guidance to ensure specificity and relevance to future sporting development
- Tournament format provides authentic context for applying all learning but requires careful management of emotional intensity
Common Misconceptions
- Assessment is about giving scores rather than providing feedback for improvement - correct by emphasising evidence and development focus
- Sportsmanship is only about being 'nice' rather than demonstrating character under pressure - address through specific behavioural examples
- Fitness training is separate from sport performance rather than directly applicable - correct through explicit game situation connections
- Leadership means being loudest or most confident rather than supporting others effectively - demonstrate inclusive leadership behaviours
- Success in sport is only measured by winning rather than development and character - celebrate multiple types of achievement
- Tournament play is only about competition rather than learning application - maintain focus on educational objectives throughout
- Assessment should be based on natural ability rather than effort and improvement - emphasise progress and attitude over innate skill
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity bursts with variety, clear movement boundaries and safety zones, regular positive feedback and recognition, kinesthetic learning opportunities through active participation
dyspraxia
- Additional practice time for complex movements, simplified fitness activities with larger equipment, step-by-step instruction cards, focus on effort and improvement rather than comparison
autism spectrum
- Clear structure and routine for tournament format, quiet zones available for breaks, visual schedule of lesson progression, predictable assessment criteria and processes
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured balls and equipment, provide verbal descriptions of demonstrations, buddy system for assessment support, audio signals for tournament timing
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations of all coaching points, written instruction cards for fitness stations, hand signals for tournament communication, visual assessment criteria displays
physical disability
- Modified netball rules with seated or walking versions, adapted fitness activities focusing on available movement, alternative roles such as scoring or coaching, modified assessment criteria
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Developing vocabulary for assessment and feedback, communication skills for coaching and leadership, articulating reflection and target setting
Maths
Tournament scoring systems, calculating averages and percentages for assessment, measuring distances for fitness stations, timing intervals for training components
Science
Understanding physiological responses to different fitness components, analysing forces and movement in netball skills, exploring energy systems during endurance activities
PSHE
Leadership development and responsibility, teamwork and collaboration skills, resilience and perseverance during challenges, celebrating diversity and individual contributions
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move continuously between courts during tournament to observe sportsmanship and performance. Position at corner of courts for maximum visibility during simultaneous matches.
Observation Focus
Monitor application of fitness components during game play, consistency of sportsmanship under pressure, quality of peer assessment and leadership during student-coached activities.
Intervention Points
Step in immediately if sportsmanship standards drop during competitive pressure. Provide support for assessment activities if students struggle with criteria or evidence. Guide fitness activities if safety concerns arise.
Demonstration Notes
Model excellent sportsmanship responses during competitive moments. Demonstrate specific examples of assessment criteria during tournament play. Show enthusiasm for character development alongside sporting achievement.
Verbal Cues
- •'Remember your fitness focus - use that speed training now!'
- •'Excellent sportsmanship - that's what real athletes look like!'
- •'Be specific with your assessment - what exactly did you see?'
- •'Support your teammates when it gets tough - that's character!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Two full netball courts (minimum 30m x 15m each) with safety run-off areas. Additional space for fitness stations around court perimeters.
Surface Check
Indoor court surface clean, dry and free from hazards. Outdoor courts checked for water, debris or surface damage that could cause slips or falls.
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check netball posts are secure and at correct height with no sharp edges or loose fittings
- •Verify all netballs are correctly inflated and in good condition without splits or damage
- •Ensure speed ladders are flat and secure to prevent tripping hazards
- •Check hurdles are appropriate height and stable during agility work
- •Confirm cones and markers are in good condition without sharp edges or cracks
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between players during competitive tournament matches
- •Overexertion during intensive fitness training and sustained tournament play
- •Slips and falls during dynamic movements and direction changes
- •Contact injuries from netball impact or awkward landing positions
- •Emotional pressure and inappropriate competitive behaviour during assessment
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear court boundaries and adequate spacing between simultaneous matches
- •Progressive warm-up and controlled intensity progression during fitness work
- •Mandatory water breaks and monitoring for signs of fatigue or overexertion
- •Emphasis on controlled movements and proper technique throughout all activities
- •Strong focus on sportsmanship and respect to prevent emotional escalation
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of both courts during simultaneous tournament matches
- •Monitor fitness stations closely during high-intensity training for technique and safety
- •Watch for signs of fatigue, dehydration or emotional distress during competitive play
- •Ensure appropriate peer assessment behaviour without negative criticism or conflict
Emergency Procedures
Immediate stop signal recognised by all students. Clear access routes to first aid equipment and communication systems. Designated staff member knows location of emergency contacts and medical information.